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Penticton news
Regional water conservation projects receive water board funding
PENTICTON - The Regional District Okanagan Similkameen has received some welcome grant funding from the Okanagan Basin Water Board. The RDOS recently received grant funding for two water conservation projects, in the form of $28,840 from the OBWB to support Phase two of the Regional Water Use Regulation and Conservation Bylaw and Phase one of...
City electrical consumption up in spite of warmer winter
PENTICTON - A warmer winter doesn’t seem to have reduced the need for electricity in the city. One might expect electrical consumption to drop in the wake of a milder winter with a presumed reduced need for electrical power for heating purposes, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, according to city and Ministry...
BCHL PLAYOFFS: Penticton Vees host Vipers in Game 5
PENTICTON – The Penticton Vees are looking to extend this year's B.C. Hockey League Interior Division final tradition of winning on home ice. With the best-of-seven series tied at two wins each, the Vees will play host to the Vernon Vipers tonight, March 20, at the South Okanagan Events Centre. The Vipers got past the...
Regional district directors say more policing needed for Oliver area
PENTICTON - The South Okanagan’s new correctional facility is barely under construction, but already causing policing issues in the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen. The regional district board is concerned about an increased need for police officers in the South Okanagan as construction on the corrections facility in Oliver ramps up. Chief Administrative Officer Bill Newell...
What a former U.S. deputy district attorney does for RCMP
PENTICTON - The man responsible for civilian oversight into critical police incidents discussed his mandate with members of the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen board on March 19. Chief Civilian Director of the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. Richard Rosenthal was on a tour of regional police facilities and local governments to talk about the IIO’s...
Vernon Vipers use home ice to even series against Penticton Vees
VERNON - The Interior Division Final will come down to a best-of-three after the Vernon Vipers picked up a 5-2 win over the Penticton Vees Wednesday night, in game four at Kal-Tire Place. The Vipers, like the Vees, held serve on home ice, winning both games by 5-2 scores to come back from a 2-0...
Former Crossing residents won’t let it die
PENTICTON - A former Portage B.C. resident of The Crossing treatment centre is petitioning for its return. A number of former residents at the company’s youth residential addiction treatment facility located near Keremeos, which suddenly closed earlier this month, want to see the program continue in B.C. “We need more places like that. Portage made...
Failure to resolve drainage issues lead to injunctive action
PENTICTON - The problem with drainage issues between three businesses in Penticton’s industrial park started in 2013 and now injunctive action has been taken by the city on two of the properties, as announced at the Monday, March 16 council meeting. City staff began a file on the issue in October of 2013 after problems...
City moves ahead with graffiti management strategy
PENTICTON - The city’s desire to take action against graffiti was firmed up at the March 16 meeting of council with approval of a graffiti management policy. A Graffiti Management Strategy was introduced at a Committee of the Whole meeting on Feb. 2., with key elements in the strategy involving enforcement and education, reporting and...
Fire extinguisher training for adults
Penticton – The Penticton Fire Department is offering Fire Extinguisher Training to interested adults. The 30-minute training provides a basic understanding of fire safety and the use and limitations of fire extinguishers. The program fulfills WorkSafe B.C. regulations requiring staff training on how to operate fire safety equipment. Training will be held on two days...
Man accused in doctor beating enters not guilty plea
PENTICTON - The man accused of brutally beating a doctor in Penticton Regional Hospital’s psychiatric ward last December says he is not guilty of the offence. Defence counsel came before Penticton court on Wednesday, March 18 to inform court of Gregory Stanley Nield’s not guilty plea and set a date for further court action. Nield...
Penticton Vees take a hit in game three against Vernon Vipers
VERNON - It was a strong start for the Penticton Vees scoring two goals in the first period, but the Vernon Vipers were able to erase that and take the win in a 5-2 finish in game three at Kal-Tire Place Tuesday. Connor Chartier and Steen Copper scored inside the first four-minutes for the Vees,...
City preparing residents for planned power outages in April
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton is preparing residents for the prospect of planned power outages, beginning next month. A $1.3 million capital project to construct a secondary bus to distribute power from the city side of the Westminster Substation to city customers is the reason for the planned outages. The upgrade will update the...
Penticton takes aim at 55+ B.C. Games
PENTICTON - With preparations to host next year’s B.C. Winter Games now underway, Penticton council last night set its sights on the 55+ B.C. Games for 2018 or 2019. Penticton has received an invitation to bid on the 2017, 2018 or 2019 B.C. Senior Games, acting City Manager Chuck Loewen told council at the March...
New city service intended to make it easier to do business in Penticton
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton continues to look for ways to make it easier to do business in the city. Penticton recently signed on to be a part of the BC OneStop Program, a provincial initiative through the Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens Services designed to make it easier to launch a new...
City council to look at electrical disconnect fees, benefits package
PENTICTON - Penticton city staff could have a solution to high electrical disconnect-reconnect fees at this evening’s council meeting. Staff are expected to bring a new rate proposal regarding electrical disconnect-reconnect fees to council at tonight’s March 16 meeting. Staff is recommending an amendment to the fees and charges bylaw that would see the disconnect-reconnect...
CROSSING CLOSURE: Portage insists closure was budgetary
PENTICTON - The company that closed its youth residential treatment centre in Keremeos earlier this month without any notice disputes claims by the provincial government that it was closed due to unlicenced staff. Portage B.C. is sticking to its assertion that it closed the facility because of funding issues from the B.C. government, despite a...
Search and rescue teams sharpen skills at Penticton meeting
PENTICTON - Penticton was "SAR Central" on the weekend with several teams from the region gathering to hone their skills and share ideas. The event took place in Penticton Saturday, March 14 and teams practised rescue and communication techniques and did a little networking. The teams, which included Penticton Search and Rescue, Central Okanagan Search...
Major snowfall for mountain pass highways in Thompson-Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Winter appears to be reluctant to release it’s icy grip on the mountain pass highways in the Thompson-Okanagan. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement warning of 10 to 20 centimetres of snow by Monday morning. Meteorologist Ross Macdonald says a strong front over Washington State combined with falling freezing levels will...
Fire fighters put out shed fire near Kaleden
PENTICTON – A fire crew from the Penticton Indian Band made short work of a shed fire early this morning. Fire fighters were called to the fire on Marron Valley Road, north of Highway 3A, near Kaleden at about 12:48 a.m., Saturday, March 14. Fire chief Barry Phillip says the shed was fully involved when...
Don’t forget to book your camping sites this weekend
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you decide to sleep in this Sunday you might miss out on the summer you’ve been dreaming of. The online and call centre reservation system for provincial campgrounds officially opens Sunday, March 15 at 9 a.m. Reservable sites tend to book up quickly, especially at the more popular campgrounds and for long...
UPDATE: Bobbitt declared a dangerous offender
PENTICTON - The man charged in the vicious rape and assault on a Penticton woman in 2011 likely won't be a threat to the public again. David Wesley Bobbitt was declared a dangerous offender and sentenced to an indeterminate term in jail by Justice Peter Rogers in Penticton Supreme court this morning, March 13. “He...
Cats abandoned at Penticton SPCA; plea issued for information
PENTICTON – Someone left their two older cats outside the Penticton shelter this week and the SPCA would like some answers as to why. The “lovely older ladies” greeted shelter staff when they arrived at work in the morning on Wednesday, March 11, according to manager Corrine Ross on Facebook. They were in separate pet...
Kelowna and Penticton derby girls ready to roll
KELOWNA - The junior hockey season may be over soon, but don't dispair, the roller derby season in the Okanagan is just getting started. The Okanagan Roller Derby Association kicks off the season Saturday, March 14 at the Central Sports Club at 1155 Ellis St. with the Kelowna's Bad Apple Betties taking on the Penticton Pisterolas....